There is so much about Jesus and his message that is unique that it would fill volumes of books describing them in detail. Though His message of love and forgiveness is unique, more profoundly, He claimed to embody the message. He said "I am the truth." This is very different from others who claimed to have the truth or bring a message of truth. Siddhartha Gautama, founder of Buddhism, claimed to bring a message of enlightenment and a process to get us there. Jesus on the other hand, claimed to be the light of the world (John 8:12). Jesus himself claimed to be unique among all men when in John 3:16 he states "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." The term "one and only" here can also be translated, one of a kind.

Ravi Zacharias put it best when he said, "When you look closely at the founders of other religions and compare their claims to the claims of Jesus, you will not find superficial differences and fundamental similarities; you will find fundamental differences and only superficial similarities." And yet so often, Jesus and Christianity are lumped together in a crock pot of world religions. Therefore, before we discuss the uniqueness of Christ, lets take a look at others who claimed to be prophets or enlightened.

Founders of Other Major ReligionsMohammed, founder of Islam – When asked if he could perform miracles like Jesus, he raised the Quran and said “this is my miracle”. Though he’s called a prophet, he has no fulfilled prophesies to speak of. He had thirteen wives, Aisha was six or seven years old when she married Mohammed. He waged war for the purpose of revenge, such as the attack on the Lihya. During the Battle of Badr, Muhammad sent his men out to raid innocent people in caravans. Later, Mohammed directed military campaigns for the mere purpose of spreading Islamic rule, ordering his followers to convert others by the sword. “But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every move; but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open the way for them” (Sura 9:5). Mohammed admits to having sinned and is rebuked by god several times. (Suras 4:106, 40:57, 47:21, 48:2, 110:3). This of course is very different from Jesus, in whom Pilate could not find fault (John 18:38). It is said of Jesus in the Quran that he was born of a virgin, (Yusif Ali1, 9:19-21), and that he performed miracles (Shakir, 2:253).

Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism - never made claims of miracles or holiness. He was indicted for perjury and polygamy and subsequently arrested for treason and inciting riots. It is believed that between 1841 and 1843 he married about thirty women, ten of them already married to other men. Smith was killed in a gunfight as he tried to escape from a prison window. He had many failed prophesies, including the second coming of Christ ….”if necessary, should be ordained to the ministry, and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time, for the coming of the Lord, which was nigh--even fifty-six years should wind up the scene." This would have put Jesus' return in 1891. Smith was a racist, “If Abraham, Joseph, and Moses had married Negro wives their descendants would have been denied the priesthood according to the word of the Lord to Abraham”. The Mormon church has since rejected polygamy and accepted African Americans into the priesthood, but the doctrine of Joseph Smith remains as a reminder that he was a racist and an opportunist.

L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology – was a writer of fiction whose critics, including his own son, have characterized him as a liar, a charlatan, and mentally unstable. On August 10, 1946, Hubbard married his best friend’s 21 year old girlfriend Sara Northrup, while still married to his first wife. On August 31, 1948, he was arrested in San Luis Obispo, California, and subsequently pled guilty to a charge of petty theft. He had begun an affair with his 20-year-old public relations assistant in late 1950, leading Sara to file for divorce in 1951, accusing him of marrying her bigamously and subjecting her to sleep deprivation, beatings, strangulation, kidnapping, and exhortations to commit suicide. Only six weeks after setting up the Hubbard College and marrying a staff member, 18-year-old Mary Sue Whipp, Hubbard closed it down. The Food and Drug Administration took action against Scientology's medical claims, seizing thousands of documents and pills. An Australian report published in October 1965, condemned Scientology and Hubbard, describing him as being of doubtful sanity, having a persecution complex and displaying strong indications of paranoid schizophrenia with delusions of grandeur. His writings were characterized as nonsensical, abounding in "self-glorification and grandiosity”. Scientology was accused of brainwashing, blackmail, extortion, and damaging the mental health of its members. He spent the last decade of his life in seclusion on a $30 million yacht.

Sun Myung Moon, founder of Unification Church - In 1955, Moon was jailed for draft evasion, adultery, and promiscuity. Moon teaches: "I am now making a prototype of the perfect family, accomplishing what Jesus could not do." According to Moon, the perfect marriage and sinless children is the pinnacle of earthly life and central to his message. Yet Moon's elder son, Hyo Jin Moon's wife Nansook, accused him of abuse and divorced him, leaving a lasting embarrassment. Moon's extensive business interests included News World Communications, an international news media corporation which founded The Washington Times and owns other media in several countries; Tongil Group, a South Korean business group (chaebol) active in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, tourism, and publishing. In 1982, Moon was convicted in the United States of filing false federal income tax returns and conspiracy.

Charles Russell, founder of Jehovah’s Witness - was accused by The Brooklyn Daily Eagle in 1911, of gaining profit from a strain of wheat named "Miracle Wheat" which Russell sold for $60 per bushel, far above the average cost of wheat at the time. Throughout 1912 and 1913, the Eagle continued to report on Russell's alleged fraud. Russell sued the Eagle for libel, but lost. A government expert investigated the "Miracle Wheat" and federal authorities made him refund the money. Russell made many false predictions including the end of secular society, “In view of this strong Bible evidence concerning the Times of the Gentiles, we consider it an established truth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world, and the full establishment of the Kingdom of God, will be accomplished near the end of 1915”.

Siddhartha Gautama, founder of Buddhism - was unlike others on this list who were clearly motivated by self interest. His quest appears to have started with noble intentions, as he left his privileged position as prince, in favor of pursuing the answer to suffering. He rejected the mythology of Hinduism and developed something more akin to a religious process or ritual than an actual religious faith, as he makes no claim to a deity. The goal of his religious practice was freedom from suffering, which would come about by extinguishing all desire through a process of self-denial and meditation. And yet when you go to predominantly Buddhist regions of East Asia, suffering seems to prevail. Buddha is not revered as divine, but rather a moral, enlightened man who spoke openly of his temptations and weaknesses. He made no claims of miracles or even of divine inspiration as he developed his system through trial and error.

Hinduism - Hindus have around 300 million gods and a varied group of religious traditions resting on the teaching of the Vedas and the Upanishads that are very difficult to pin down. There is not one founder or leader to speak of, but rather a plethora of ancient writings which include spiritual, moral, and even sexual practices. There are gurus who claim to have superior insight into the text. None claim to embody sinless perfection, and in fact, many have taken advantage of their followers, including Mahatma Gandhi who is said to have slept with women other than his wife.

The Uniqueness of ChristWhen we are witnessing to people of other faiths, it is very persuasive to speak of the uniqueness of Christ, as He embodies everything the human heart longs for. When you examine the life of Christ in light of others who claimed to be prophets or gurus, it won't take long to recognize that He is superior, exceptional, and unlike any who ever lived. Below is a list of just a few features of the life of Christ to which no other religious leader can make or has made a claim.

Holy and sinless - He fulfilled the Mosaic Law and no fault was found in Him during his trial and crucifixion.

Sacrificial death - He gave up His life willingly and forgave his executioners.

Performed miracles - From His first miracle in Canaan, to raising Lazereth from the dead, he performed spectacular miracles.

Fulfilled prophesy - From the location of His birth, to the genealogies of His decedents, to His suffering and crucifixion, the details of His life were foretold centuries before His birth.

Perfect humility - He washed His disciples feet, spoke openly to a Samaritan women, and ate with tax collectors, something prohibited by the religious establishment.

Spoke prophesy - He foretold the destruction of the Temple and the dispersion of the Jewish people, among other events.

Born of virgin - When Mary gave birth, Jesus would fulfill the prophesy of a virgin birth.

Fully God and fully human - He embodied everything human, including temptation, sorrow, and pain. He is also the creator and sustainer of the universe.

Promise of his presence - He promises to live among His followers until the end of the age.

Defeated death and lives forever - Rose from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father forever.

His moral teachings are superior - Hindus believe suffering people are reaping their Karma and therefore should be left alone, while Mohammed insists on killing infidels. Jesus taught his followers to love their enemies and devote their lives to serving others.

Salvation is assured - Unlike Hindus, New Agers, and Buddhists who enter the unknown maze of karma, or the Muslim who is put on a scale at the judgement, salvation in Christ is assured through the simple act of faith.

In The World’s Living Religions, Professor of the History of Religions, Robert Hume writes, "All of the nine founders of religion, with the exception of Jesus Christ, are reported in their respective sacred scriptures as having passed through a preliminary period of uncertainty, or of searching for religious light…. All the founders of the non-Christian religions evinced inconsistencies in their personal character; some of them altered their practical policies under change of circumstances. Jesus Christ alone is reported as having had a consistent God-consciousness, a consistent character himself, and a consistent program for his religion."